What is Rewilding?

We live in a society that is disconnected from the natural world. Think about your typical weekday. Many people wake up in a heated house, take their car to work, and sit at a desk for most of the day. They eat meals from a package, unaware of the source of that food. At the end of the day, they relax by sitting in front of a screen of some kind.

Now, I’m not saying that any of these things are bad or wrong. I love spending time on Instagram connecting with like-minded people. I’m grateful to have a heated home to live in and a car to take me where I need to go. I’m happy with the progress our society has made and I’m not about to go live off the grid in the forest (although tempting sometimes). I’m not telling you to throw away your screens and gaze at trees all day either. 

What I am saying though, is that many of us spend too much time inside and very little time in nature. Many of us have forgotten our connection with the earth and the life we share this planet with. This has had detrimental effects on our mental, physical, and emotional health and in some cases, has dulled our senses and squandered our zest for life. I believe that in the pursuit of success, security, and convenience, we have come to neglect a very important part of who we are. I’m talking about the part of you that feels at peace in the forest and in awe next to the ocean. How often do you nurture this wild side? 

We need to pull ourselves from our indoor environments and virtual worlds and spend more time connecting with the natural world. When we are too engrossed in the monotony of day to day responsibilities, we miss the magic of existence.

Think about how you feel after a walk in the forest, or eating a meal with ingredients from your garden. How do you feel while sitting around a fire with friends, or seeing a wild animal on a hike. I believe that in these moments we feel alive and connected. Embracing the concepts of rewilding has a positive impact on our health and society as a whole. 

The concept of rewilding doesn't mean choosing between our modern way of living and surviving in the forest. It’s about integrating the two. Instead of scrolling social media, go out for a walk. Instead of taking your car to work, perhaps it’s possible to bike. There are so many things we can do to integrate rewilding into our lives; you could start a garden this spring, wake up with the sun, go for weekend adventures, spend time in a local park, get produce from your local market, have bonfires, walk barefoot in the grass, and the list goes on.

While you bring more of the natural world into your life, be present with each experience. In doing so, your life is sure to be full and nourishing. Reclaim this part of who you are and Rewild.